World

Australia's Gold Coast is officially the eighth World Surfing Reserve

Famous for its appreciation of sun, surf and sand, it's little wonder that the beaches in Australia have gained world recognition.

A darling of the country's enviable shoreline, the Gold Coast in Queensland was dedicated as the eighth World Surfing Reserve in a ceremony on Tuesday. The designation has been given to a coastal area stretching 16 kilometres (9.9 miles) from Burleigh to Snapper Rocks.

It's been awarded by the Save The Waves Coalition, an organisation that protects coastal environments with an emphasis on surf zones.

In Australia, Sydney's Manly Beach is another beach with the designation, which was awarded in Mar. 2012. Other World Surfing Reserves include Malibu in California, Ericeira in Portugal, and Punta De Lobos in Chile.

Image: Sean scott

"We recognise that our beautiful beaches are one of our most precious natural assets for residents and visitors alike," Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, said in a statement. "We are so proud of this special dedication."

After a lengthy nomination process that took two years of work by local World Surfing Reserve representatives, the Gold Coast was picked in October 2015 to join an esteemed group of beaches due to some of stand-out factors.

"Each applicant was highly unique, however the Gold Coast's combination of perfect point breaks and world champions was a deciding factor in winning the approval for 2016," Nik Strong-Cvetich, executive director of Save The Waves, said in a statement. A nice bit of praise, for a glorious expanse of sand.

Put your feet up and take a moment to gaze at the eight chosen spots around the world.

Gold Coast, Australia

Image: Luke sorenson

Manly Beach, Australia

Image: Chris jackson/Getty Images

Punta De Lobos, Chile

Image: EPA/Corbis

Bahia Todos Santos, Mexico

Image: LA Times via Getty Images

Huanchaco, Peru

Image: LatinContent/Getty Images

Santa Cruz, United States of America

Image: AP

Ericeira, Portugal

Image: Getty Images/Gualter Fatia

Malibu, United States of America

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